Self Esteem--Earn Some, Want None.

This is an interview of Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball and Coach. Coach is a small book about his high school baseball coach that every high school coach should read at least once a year. The coach, Billy Fitzgerald, was under fire and parents were calling for his firing, after 30+ years of coaching. Forget the state championships, it was the building of young men that mattered to him. Here is what Fitz has to say about self-esteem.

"What he said to me afterwards was, one of the things that has changed in the world is the notion of self-esteem. He said, `I have always thought of it,' he said, `as something that was earned. You started with zero, and it was through your acts in the world that led to the acquisition of self-esteem.' And what he faces now is a notion that's very much alive in the world and in these children that they're born with a fixed quantity of self-esteem, and when a coach yells at him or a teacher gives him a C or whenever anything bad happens to them, it damages, it reduced the fixed quantity. And so the person who's responsible for lessening the self-esteem gets all kinds of grief. So what he's trying to do is build the self-esteem. The parents see him as trying to take it away."

Waste Not, Want Not. Or. . .

How Come Dad is so Weird and Cheap?

I am a constant source of amazement to my children in regards to my spending habits and the lengths to which I will scrounge, save, recycle and reuse. What surprises me more is that they are still amazed after living with me as long as they have.

This past weekend one of our children's friends TP'd our house. It was quite a sight. We have suspicions about which friends did the deed.





What some would see as a great pain in the behind, I see as a opportunity falling from the sky.




So after not very much time I had a pile of usable TP that awaited a new task. The pile was actually what resembled about 14 + rolls.



After that Maureen and I were off to the Farmer's Market and other tasks in Visalia. When we returned we found the rest of the TP cleaned up by Annie.



I can see the wheels turning wondering how long I would have to spend re-rolling this pile into usable rolls. I found another way to reuse (clean) TP.




TP will compost in short order. So the TP was taken across the street to Joyce's Garden, our Suburban Sharecropper plot, for composting. While there I found two more example of recycling and reusing. Maureen started these wine bottle gardens last year and we have expanded them this year.



They are the rounded ends to our beds and are for herbs and other small plants. You should see one at the top end of this one bed and another part of one across the walkway. It is a great way to relive our wine habit and look at the bottle art. Here is a picture with four of the wine bottle beds, Maureen and Pecan the cat.



We have to admit some bottles weather better than others. Paper labels come off at different rates, but some of the best also happen to be our favorite wines.





The last recycling project across the street is a bit of a stretch, but brings a new location to an old thing. Sort of geographical recycling.



Pecan, on of our cats, has decided to move across the street and has moved into the garden. I think she gets more attention here in the garden. She is called Pecan as she used to live near the pecan tree in our yard.

Prayer, Part Two

Just a couple of pictures of where I go to work. Yes, Mike, this is the view we get to see in the spring until the inversion layer sits down on us. That is Homer's Nose on the right and the Kaweah River canyon is above the young man with his hat off. The second picture is of Marshall doing the baseball coach's eternal job, which is a life extending experience*, and a closer shot of the Kaweah gorge. We don't usually have this much snow on the mountains at this time of the year, but it is always appreciated.

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True love? Bringing us further along the road to a definition is a Leonard Cohen video of the song, "Dance Me to the End of Love." I can't get the video to show up here but if you go to Youtube and search for "cohen dance me to the end of love" you should find the "official" version. That is the one to watch.

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This is a follow-up to the previous post about our humble high school and the graduation night prayer. This week it was still the talk of the radio waves and at least one TV station visited. Students are still talking some, but no official pronouncement has been made about what will happen.

I was approached by an honest true friend that had the opportunity to talk to the young person that has been at the center of this issue, and who has been the target of vile, ugly and cruel comments. What came out of that conversation is a much different truth than what is being passed along as the sole version of the truth within the community.

In the process of a research paper this young person asked a question of an adult, who asked another adult, who talked with a third adult. This young person nor parents never asked that the prayer be dropped. Nor did they ever threaten a lawsuit. That is the truth and everything else is speculation. Almost all of us have never been in the meetings that have taken place and are not privy to the discussions that have occurred. And yet many have spoken out with another version of "truth," sometimes vehemently.

What bothers me most is that Christ and Christianity once again are being besmirched by the voice of "Christians" speaking from their hearts and minds, instead of from the truth and love of Christ and the Bible. Why would I want to become a Christian if this is how I am expected to live and act?


*A life extending experience is any event that, though it may be work or pleasure, extends your life one minute for every minute you spend doing that experience.

Ever Join a Group?

Maybe this means more to me because I am a part of a fraternity that I myself didn't join, but am happy to be a part of, now.

This is the Day. . .

Happy Mother's Day to the mother's in my life. Especially the mother of our children! We'd like to think that we celebrate our loved ones everyday, but the reality is we(I) don't as much as I should.

Thank you all for what you do.

Cell Pictures From Haiti

Just a few pictures from Haiti taken with a cell phone by someone we know. I am struck not just with the destruction, but the decades of neglect the Haitians have had to live with. Our prayers need to include some for the wisdom to rebuild correctly without greed.

Don't Know Much

Get Low.

Don't know much about this but Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek in it means it must be at least half good.

A Few Answers, But More Questions

Sam is back in North Carolina. He says it's nice to be back and he went shopping for fresh fruit and real food. They arrived Saturday and had work Sunday morning at 6:30 am. The thought was it would prevent too much celebrating for some soldiers. He has half days for a week, then a week of leave. Planning on being home for two weeks in July.




What a month. The Monarchs came out of their cocoons and won last Friday. The battled and came from behind twice eventually scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to win. Wilson picked up the win in relief. And what a relief it is.




EUHS has been on the radio waves and the topic of much discussion lately amongst the town's citizens. The smoke is still hanging about us, so the truth is still unknown. Many things have been said and with much sincerity and conviction. I hope some civility comes soon. The issue is the prayer during the graduation ceremony. I've been a part of a few discussions with a cross section of the town. As usual the kids are on lockdown from discussing the topic in class, but outside there is some talk. The conversations with adults have really made me think though. And make me sad at the same time. Well meaning, sincere and faithful people making angry remarks and threats to do what we've always have done and pray.

I find myself thinking many thoughts.

One comment is that "We are a Christian nation and those that don't like it can put up with it." Are we really a Christian nation?

Doesn't this line of reasoning sound like it's coming from those that forced many to flee to the colonies for religious freedom in the first place?

Now that "we" are in power, we can do what we want with impunity?

Are we reacting to our government, other groups and the courts forcing us to include all stakeholders in everything?

Are we reacting to the term "stakeholders" anytime we hear it?

Are we being divisive as Christ called us not to do?

More to come as I sort.